Bornhoft opposed to rape, incest abortion exceptions

Republican House candidate Barney Bornhoft of Carroll speaks to the Carroll Rotary Club on Monday as the local philanthropic organization kicks off its 2012 candidates series. Daily Times Herald photo by Douglas Burns

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Republican House candidate Barney Bornhoft of Carroll, who is making opposition to abortion central in campaign, says there should be no exceptions for cases of rape and incest should abortion be re-criminalized in Iowa.

“I think pro-life means what it says — pro life, meaning as bad, as heinous, as rape is, to murder the baby is even worse,” Bornhoft said. “To take a wrong that has been committed, and then to add murder on top of that, I can’t see at all.”

What’s more, Bornhoft told the Carroll Rotary Club Monday afternoon that he talked to a doctor about the issue of providing legal exceptions in a post Roe v. Wade world for women whose lives may in danger as a result of pregnancy.

“The doctor said to me, he said, ‘Barney, when that happens, when a woman comes in who is pregnant, who is having problems delivering the baby, there’s not a doctor around that first thinks, well we gotta kill the baby first, and then we’ll see if we can protect the mother,’” Bornhoft said. “You go into it to protect both. You go into it to make sure that the baby is delivered healthy and that the mother is healthy, and I think that’s the key.”

He said there could be times when “the baby has to be taken” to save the mother, suggesting a possible abortion exception in those cases.

“That’s a decision,” Bornhoft said.

But the Carroll Republican said most women likely would choose the lives of their babies over their own anyway.

“If we were to take a poll and ask the majority of mothers: ‘Do you want the baby to be dead, or Lord forbid, do you want to die, here’s the option?’” Bornhoft said. “I know what happens the kids are 3, 4, 5 years old. I know what happens then. They’ll do anything to keep the life of that child.”

Bornhoft, who ran unopposed in the GOP primary this June, is seeking election to House District 12. After redistricting, House District 12 is comprised of all of Carroll and Audubon counties and the eastern half of Crawford County. State Rep. Dan Muhlbauer, D-Manilla, is seeking election in the new district.

Muhlbauer has described himself as a pro-life candidate on abortion who makes exceptions for rape and incest and where the life of the mother is in danger.

On education issues, Bornhoft said the role of parents in student development needs to be emphasized, and that schools should take a more active approach in working with parents.

“We need to train the parents to be parents,” Bornhoft said.

A salesman for Prenger’s Flooring America, Bornhoft said he would bring conservative principles to the job of state representative.

“When people go into to buy goods and services with their money they’re conservative,” Bornhoft said.

Bornhoft said he is opposed to an increase in the gas tax to improve state, county and city roads. He thinks more efficiencies in government can free up those funds.

Too often, he said, government looks to taxes.

“That seems to be the first reaction of the majority of the people that are in the legislative branch,” Bornhoft said.

Bornhoft said he is strongly opposed to same-sex marriage and would like to see property-tax reduction.

For his part, Muhlbauer and his family operate Muhlbauer Cattle, an 1,800-acre operation in the Manilla area. Most of the land is row crops and located in Crawford County where it is used for row crops. Muhlbauer also has land holdings in Shelby County (80 acres) and Audubon County (120 acres).

When Bonrhoft was asked if Muhlbauer had failed in any way with his advocacy of agriculture in the Legislature, either with direct votes or other actions, Bornhoft offered no specific votes or comments from the Manilla Democrat with which he disagreed other than to say Muhlbauer appeared to have supported measures to make it more difficult for farmers to get electrical work done. Bornhoft did not cite what these were.

“For the most part, I think he’s done a very good job for agriculture in general,” Bornhoft said.

Bornhoft, a son of the late Don and Carm Bornhoft, grew up in Westside and graduated from Kuemper Catholic High School in 1974. He and his wife, Deb, have three grown children: Mandy, 31, of Boone; Brandon, 27, of Fort Dodge; and Michaela, 21, of Boone.

Choose Life, not death. I agree! The key word is "choose." What would be selfish would be for me to think I know what's best and make that choice for a woman.This comment has been hidden due to low approval.

...and John Werden (and the ENTIRE GOP)wants to impose their religious views on everyone else. Joe Biden made it crystal clear in the V.P. debate,you may follow a religion,but that STOPS the second you work for the public. Where's all the "we don't need the govt. to tell us what to do??? Your sure happy to tell woman what they can do with their vagina, and everyone who they can and can't marry. Your politcal views are blatantly religious influenced...so who thinks for a second John Werden is keeping his religious seperate from his job?This comment has been hidden due to low approval.

We well understand that John Cook supports abortion on demand and doesn't believe that the unborn have any rights. How sad that unfortunately many share his selfish view. Choose life, not death.This comment has been hidden due to low approval.

Tom Ganoe provided a hypothetical situation to consider. Add another dimension: If the mother dies her three young children would be motherless. The real question is who should make the decision? Not me. Not Tom Ganoe or John Werden. And not Barney Bornhoft or the Iowa legislature. It should be up to the woman in consultation with her family and subject to her beliefs.This comment has been hidden due to low approval.

Tom sets out a theoretical case where we supposedly know the baby will die. Talk to a doctor and you will find out that they will always try to save both. Things don't work the way Tom suggests. But what does this example have to do with rape and incest? Nothing really.

"Does anyone believe if it was Barney's daughter/granddaughter involved, she would have the baby?" Yes, Tom, as difficult as it is for some to comprehend, always choose life.

Tom, please open your heart to life. Please understand that the great majority of abortions are for convenience - for some just another form of birth control. Until we open the hearts of more people, we will not succeed politically. Government's first role is to protect those who cannot protect themselves.This comment has been hidden due to low approval.

"Republican House candidate Barney Bornhoft of Carroll, who is making opposition to abortion central in campaign, says there should be no exceptions for cases of rape and incest should abortion be re-criminalized in Iowa."

- Does anyone believe if it was Barney's daughter/granddaughter involved, she would have the baby?This comment has been hidden due to low approval.

How about this option - The baby has a 5% chance of living, but without an abortion, the mother has a 0% chance of living? - So the mother gets to die and so does the baby,19 out of 20 times (in this example). That is the kind of choices we get when we allow religous beliefs to guide our medical decisions and NOT our doctors.This comment has been hidden due to low approval.

“If we were to take a poll and ask the majority of mothers: ‘Do you want the baby to be dead, or Lord forbid, do you want to die, here’s the option?’” Bornhoft said. “I know what happens the kids are 3, 4, 5 years old. I know what happens then. They’ll do anything to keep the life of that child.”

- How about this option - The baby has a 5% chance of living, but without an abortion, the mother has a 0% chance of living? - So the mother gets to die and so does the baby,19 out of 20 times (in this example). That is the kind of choices we get when we allow religous beliefs to guide our medical decisions and NOT our doctors.